Improvement in gelatine lanterns



F. J. & G. A. WHITGHER.

Gelatine-Lantern.

No. 202,687. Patented April 23,1878.

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Wrrussszs TO-UTNOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON 0 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS J. WHITOHER AND G. ALBERT WHITGHER, OF HYDE PARK, MASS.

I'MPROVEMENT IN GELATINE LANTERNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,687, dated April 23, 1878; application filed September 8, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS J. WHITOHER and GEORGE ALBERT WnIrcHER, both of Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Gelatine Lanterns, Emblems, and Designs for Decorative Illuminations, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object the following-described lantern, emblem, or design for decorative illumination, consisting of thin sheets of transparent gelatine, in uniform or varying colors, fastened to a framework of pasteboard, card-board, papier-mach, wood, wire, or of any light and easily-shaped material, and having a support for a lamp or candle.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining the nature of our invention, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lantern, and Fig. 2 a vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 shows a lantern attached to a letter; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section, showing the method employed in holding the lantern in position.

Heretofore lanterns for decorative illuminations have principally been made of paper in the shape of the Well-known Chinese lantern; and other illuminations have been efifected by means of candles placed on the sills or crossbars of windows or on the branches of Christmas trees; but these forms and methods are objectionable for certain kinds of illumination, owing to the size of the Chinese lantern, and to the liability of candles to drip and set fire to surrounding or adjacent objects if unprotected.

Our lantern is light, cheap, and substantially fire-proof, and can be used for almost every kind of indoor and outdoor illumination.

In constructing the lantern, we first form a light open frame-work, A, of pasteboard, cardboard, papier-mach, wood, wire, or of any material which is light, cheap, and easily put together and shaped. Then wefastento theframework the thin sheets 13 of transparent gelatine,

' which are first cut to the desired shape, and the bottom of the frame generally serves as a support for the lamp or candle D, and is sometimes finished as shown at b, to hold the lamp securely.

It will be observed that the frame-work of the lantern consists of a base, a central, and an upper band of pasteboard; that when the edge of the gelatine panes are cemented thereto these bands are entirely inclosed by them and fastened in position; that these bands are unprovided with "ertical support, except from the gelatine sheets; that the edges of the gelatine sheets are cemented together along the line of their union by strips of paper or cloth; and that the flame of the lamp or candle employed is protected by drawing in the top of the lantern from the central band, as shown.

In making the lantern, we use a form of the requisite shape for forming the lower portion thereof. Upon this we slip the central pasteboard band and the base or bottom 0. We then cement the gelatine sheets to the sides of the bottom and to the central band, and apply the lower re-enforcing strips. The block is then removed and the upper parts of the gelatine sheets are drawn in and cemented to the upper band, and the upper re-enforcing strips are cemented in place,

We prefer to unite the inner edge of the gelatine sheets to their proper position on the frame-work by dextrme, glue, or any suitable starch or cement; and after this is done the outer edges of the sheets are covered by thin strips of paper or cloth, which are pasted or cemented thereto, and bind the parts securely together.

In making a design or emblem, the above construction is substantially carried out, the only difference being that they are somewhat more elaborate in shape and arrangement of the colors. As above set forth, we first prepare a light frame-work representing, in outline, the shape desired, and arrange cross bars or pieces therein, for the support of the gelatine sheets, which are glued thereon, and afterward re-enforced by binding-strips of paper or cloth glued to the edges of the sheets along the line of juncture.

By the use of thin sheets of transparent gelatine of contrasting colors a very pleasing design or emblem is cheaply obtained.

One of the numerous ways in which the lantern may be used in decorating is to fasten it-to a prepared frame or letter; and to provide for such use we construct a lantern with a step, a, and a rivet, b, by which it may be secured vertically to the design or letter, as represented in Fig. 3.

The use of thin sheets of transparent gelatine for lights, as described, has great advantages over the employment of paper or glass for the purpose set forth, in that the gelatine sheets are more transparent and tougher than paper, as well as fire-proof, and are lighter and more easily shaped, worked, and fastened to the frame-work than glass.

Of course, we do not confine ourselves to the use of thin gelatine sheets in working out our invention, but may also use thin sheets of any other transparent material sufficiently fireproof, light, cheap, and tough to answer the purpose.

We are aware that the decorative lantern shown and described in the patent granted Herman Hirschberge April 27, 1874, No. 150,572, is made with pasteboard side pieces, re-enforced at the corners, stiffened by a wire frame, shaped to gradually flare toward the top, and having openings, in which are inserted transparent panes; but the same is not our invention.

We claim- 1. A lantern, emblem, or design for decorative purposes, provided with the step or projection a and the rivet b, for the purposes set forth.

2. A lantern for decorative purposes, having a base, a central, and an upper band, in separate sections, of pasteboard or other light and suitable material, and colored sheets of transparent or translucent gelatine fastened at their upper and lower edges only to two of said sections, and exteriorly re-enforced at their junction by strips offibrous material cemented over the edges, substantially as described.

3. A lantern, emblem, or design for decorative purposes, in which sheets of colored gelatine are pasted at one or more of their edges to a light interior frame-work of pasteboard strips or hands, or other suitable material, and re-enforced exteriorly along their juncture by strips of fibrous material.

FRANCIS J. WHITCHER. G. ALBERT WHITGHER. Witnesses:

BENJ; T. WELLS, CHAS. STURTEVANT. 

